The Oz Series
Chapter 46
Part of the The Marvelous Land of Oz: Tip's Rebellion and the Return of Ozma arc.
What happens
The Witch Mombi, at first frightened at being captured by the enemy in the form of the red rose, soon decides she is as safe in the Tin Woodman's buttonhole as on the bush, since no one knows the rose is Mombi, and being outside the city gates improves her chances of escaping Glinda altogether. She resolves to wait and enjoy the Sorceress's humiliation at being outwitted. Through the night the rose lies quietly on the Woodman's bosom, and in the morning Nick Chopper carries the flower to Glinda's white silk tent when the friends are summoned to a consultation. Glinda laments that they failed to find Mombi and fears the expedition will fail, since without their assistance little Ozma will never be rescued and restored as Queen of the Emerald City. The Scarecrow proposes conquering the Emerald City for Princess Ozma and finding the girl afterward, offering to rule in her place, but Glinda objects that she promised not to molest Jinjur. The Tin Woodman invites the whole party to his castle in his Kingdom of the Winkies.
While the Woodman speaks, Glinda notices the rose's big red leaves tremble slightly, arousing her suspicion that the rose is a transformation of old Mombi. Mombi, realizing she is discovered, immediately takes the form of a Shadow and glides along the tent wall toward the entrance to escape. But Glinda, with greater cunning and experience, reaches the tent opening first and with a wave of her hand closes it so securely that Mombi can find no crack to creep through. The surprised Scarecrow and friends, who had not seen the Shadow, are told by Glinda to remain quiet because the old Witch is with them in the tent and she hopes to capture her. Alarmed, Mombi transforms from a shadow into a Black Ant and crawls along the ground seeking a crack to hide in, but the ground before the city gates is hard and smooth. Glinda discovers the ant and runs to capture it, but just as her hand descends, the frantic Witch makes her last transformation into a huge Griffin, springs through the tent wall tearing the silk asunder, and darts away with the speed of a whirlwind.
Glinda springs upon the back of the Saw-Horse and commands it to run, and the Saw-Horse follows the Griffin like a flash, its wooden legs twinkling like star-rays, both vanishing from sight. The Scarecrow calls the party to follow; they tumble aboard the Gump, and Tip commands it to fly high to discover which way Glinda has gone. From the air they see two tiny specks—the Griffin and the Saw-Horse—speeding across the meadows, but though the Gump flies swiftly, the pursued and pursuer move faster and are blotted out against the horizon. The Scarecrow advises continuing to follow, reasoning the Land of Oz is small and both must eventually halt. Mombi's chosen Griffin form has fleet legs and enduring strength, but she did not reckon on the Saw-Horse's untiring wooden limbs that can run for days. After an hour's hard running the Griffin's breath fails; reaching the desert, its tired feet sink into the deep sand until it falls forward exhausted. Glinda, riding the still-vigorous Saw-Horse, unwinds a slender golden thread from her girdle and throws it over the Griffin's head, destroying the magical power of Mombi's transformation; the animal shudders and disappears, revealing the old Witch glaring savagely at the serene Sorceress.
Who is in play
- Ozma
- Tin Woodman
- Tip
- Glinda
- Jack Pumpkinhead
- Mombi
- Saw-Horse
- Scarecrow
- Dorothy's Traveling Party
- the Gump
- Land of Oz